Homes For The Holidays

The holidays always seem to bring families home to gather together in celebration. Sons and daughters come home from college, sisters and brothers bring their kids - it's a season of homecoming.

But many families in our community struggle to find and maintain a decent, affordable home of their own. They end up dealing with apartments or older homes that present many challenges, such as poor heating, electrical problems or leaking plumbing, or damaged roofs.

Our area has a critical shortage of affordable housing, with waiting lists for subsidized housing being a common occurrence. Luckily, through the help of volunteers and generous donations from our community, the

is helping to address these housing needs.

Roughly half of the households of Staunton, Augusta and Waynesboro do not earn enough income to qualify for loan that would finance a decent home to live in. The median cost for a home in Augusta County is $188,600. Lenders typically want you to have an income of at least 3 times the expected monthly payment for the home, which in this case would be $1,000. This would mean the family would need to earn at least $17 an hour.

These homes, and the hope and stability they provide to those families that need a helping hand, rely on your support. As you enjoy your home this holiday season, please consider sharing your good fortune with others.

Donations can be made at